Staying Fit, Staying Slim, Staying Cheap

The Cheap One

January 15, 1996|By JEANNE PECK Daily Press

In celebration of the new year, people who hate their love handles are flocking to fitness centers. Most want to lose weight, but some just want to getbuff. Problem is, many of them pay way too much for the privilege of sweating the fat away.

Health club memberships don't have to cost a fortune, and many of them don't. That's especially true in January when club owners slash prices to attract new business from the people who dream of building up or trimming down.

For example, local health clubs such as the YMCA and LifeLine Fitness Centers have waived their $50 membership fees for the entire month of January. Bally Total Fitness temporarily has replaced its $100 membership fee with a nominal $5 charge. They still charge $20 to $30 in monthly usage fees.

All three clubs provide the basics, like aerobics classes and Nautilus and stair-climbing machines. But there are price differences because some clubs offer more amenities, such as whirlpools and racquetball courts, than others.

The key to getting a good deal on a fitness club membership is to buy only what you need, says LifeLine sales manager Erik Pearson.

"Some people make the mistake of joining a big health club and paying for a lot of things they won't use," he says. "Some people join clubs with basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and then they find out they don't have time to use them. Most people are lucky if they have time for three or four aerobics classes a week. If they don't use all the facilities, they can get discouraged."

Danny Brinkley, an assistant manager at Bally Total Fitness in Newport News, says "health and fitness should be viewed as a lifetime commitment. You're making a lifetime investment."

I agree with his basic theory, which is that by investing in fitness now, you're less likely to have to spend lots of money on medical care in the future. But if you're taking your first baby steps into the fitness world, don't get tricked into signing a long-term contract with a gym you might stop using after three weeks.

Let's face it, lots of people with the best of intentions give up soon after they start a new exercise regimen.

Before you buy any kind of club membership, consider these tips:

* Compare fees, facilities and operating hours. Join the one with the best combination of all three.

* See if you qualify for any employee, military or senior citizens discounts.

* Make sure that the club has a location that is close to home or work. If it's nearby, you are more likely to use it.

* Don't invest in facilities you'll never use. For example, if you can't swim and don't want to learn, you might not want to pay for the luxury of joining a club with an Olympic-size swimming pool.

* Join a club where you feel most comfortable. If you're not comfortable working out with a bunch of tight-bodies in search of future mates, you might want to join a club that promotes itself as "family-oriented." Also, some clubs are for women only, so there's no risk of members having to fend off unwanted flirtations from men. Again, the more comfortable you are in a club, the more likely you are to use it.

* Consider how many locations a club has. More locations can mean more convenience. The YMCA, LifeLine and Bally each have two Peninsula locations. But most people tend to work out at the same place every time. So you don't want to waste money essentially supporting locations you'll never use.

DEAL OF THE WEEK. A&N stores stock tons of low-price fitness wear at its Peninsula locations. The Reebok outlet store in Berkeley Commons just outside of Williamsburg is having its footwear clearance sale now. Shoes cost $20 to $40 a pair.

* Peck is the Daily Press' retail reporter. If you have a tip for this column, please contact her at 247-4749 or 7505 Warwick Blvd., Newport News 23607or at DPnews@aol.com ATT: Cheap One.